Tai Chi Sword Brush

ABSTRACT

This invention is intended to address the American obesity crisis by combining three of China&#39;s treasured art forms, calligraphy, brush painting and tai chi, into an easy to use exercise implement. The sword brush utilizes the whole body moving as one to stimulate healing energy, or Qi. This energy in turn spurs creativity so that beautiful works of art can be generated. The Tai Chi Sword Brush is novel because it serves simultaneous purposes of practicing the ancient martial art of Tai Chi, cultivating Qi, exercising the body, mind, and spirit, as well as creative expression through calligraphy and painting. This utility model, claiming foreign priority, discloses an artist&#39;s brush in the size and shape of a Tai Chi sword, including a grip gear hand blade; front end of said model can be used as non-lethal weapon in martial arts practice or as a brush to apply ink or paint to paper in an artistic medium. There are 5 claims submitted with 3 drawings.

REFERENCES U.S. Patent Documents

2,315,996 Apr. 6, 1943 Workman 3,924,287 Dec. 9, 1975 Brown 4,144,611 Mar. 20, 1979 Brown

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

Chinese Publication No. 202685652 Jan. 23, 2013 Lui

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an artistic implement that applies color to an artistic medium while the user is practicing Tai Chi (or related martial arts). This implement is novel because the consumer creates visual art utilizing whole body martial arts movement that simultaneously exercises the physical, mental and spiritual self.

2. Description of the Prior Art

(1) U.S. Pat. No. 2,315,996 to Workman: The Fountain Art Brush teaches that a sharp brush point will contain the colors ejected from a reservoir of ink from within the brush. The sharp brush point also can be utilized to part the hair and apply bleach or hair color from that implement. Here, however, the sharp brush point emulates the point of a Tai Chi sword so that the Qi can be funneled from the body down the sword brush handle and concentrated in the point in order to facilitate the application of creative energy into an art medium. Moreover, the present invention arranges the hairs of the brush in a cylindrical manner so that the point is shaped as a cone. The Sword Brush does not need a fountain because re-dipping the brush is part of the exercise and performance art.

(2) and (3) U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,287 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,611 to Brown: In Brown's two patents, she teaches the effects of differing types of hair used in the brush, showing preferences for mink and chinchilla, depending on the effect desired. For the Tai Chi Sword Brush, the preference is for wool or wolf's hair because both are firm enough to allow for a three to five inch “blade” point while remaining supple enough to allow for Chinese traditional brush style painting or calligraphy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention seeks to address the obesity crisis in America by combining traditional Chinese exercise with creative expression. Tai Chi is a martial art with world-wide appeal because any one can learn and practice it, regardless of physical condition. Tai Chi involves slow movements designed to harness the energy of the body, or Qi, and redirect it to correct imbalances and heal the body. Tai Chi has forged a bridge of cultural understanding between the east and west. It is common to see both Americans and Chinese practicing together early morning in New York's (and other large cities') urban parks.

The Tai Chi Sword Brush epitomizes the yin/yang aspect of martial arts: Chinese kung fu masters are excellent fighters also renowned for their healing powers and artistic skills. This invention cultivates Qi to create physical power that aids in self-defense (yang) while nurturing the healing and creative powers that aid in correcting imbalances in the body and the creation of beautiful works of art (yin).

Even when viewed in the western perspective of weight loss and calories burned, the Tai Chi Sword Brush's utility in fighting obesity is readily apparent. Using the free online WebMD Fit-O-Meter Calorie Calculator, a person weighing 150 lbs can burn only 102 calories while sitting and painting art for an hour. Tai Chi will burn 273. Painting the house will burn 342. So it follows that practicing Tai Chi with the Sword Brush should be more like painting a house rather than sitting to paint art, and thus burn at least 600 calories per hour by a 150 lb individual because two strenuous activities are done at once: Tai Chi exercise and painting using whole body movement. (Calculator found online: www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-fitness-calorie-counter).

Since painting well is a skill that requires development, even the novice user can produce satisfying results through calligraphy. Whether learning Chinese characters or just practicing the alphabet, the user utilizes whole body movement to create the strokes. This is ideal for schools in an era facing steep budget cuts and an obesity crisis in our children. The Tai Chi Sword Brush can be manufactured cheaply using plastic and synthetic hairs. The students will learn the alphabet, create art, and exercise simultaneously, requiring just one teacher in a shorter time period.

It is important to note that use of this implement is expected to create two new types of performance art: Tai Chi Sword Brush Calligraphy and Tai Chi Sword Brush Painting. Individuals will be attracted to both because of the health benefits of losing weight and cultivating Qi, but it is well-suited to exhibitions to large audiences by kung fu masters and accomplished students. Tai Chi Sword Brush Calligraphy and Painting classes will be the new rage, much like Zumba® is now.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the lateral views of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts the top view looking down at the top of the feather, showing the circular hand grip blade.

FIG. 3 depicts the bottom view looking up from the point of the cylindrical brush hairs, to the round sword body on to the circular hand grip blade.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This implement consists of a bamboo, wooden, metallic, or plastic round, elongated body resembling a Tai Chi sword with one end comprising a round hand grip blade used for holding the implement on one or two hands, which can be decorated with a feather on a string. The other end comprising a brush made from wolf's hair or wool, or other similar firm materials arranged in a cylindrical shape and coming to a sharp point in the shape of a cone.

Different materials can be used for the body to adjust for weight or costs. Lighter materials are ideal for children and seniors, or those with health problems, while heavier weights will give a greater work-out for the strong and healthy. Plastic material is best for keeping the costs to a minimum while precious metals can be used for gift giving to a cherished master. Synthetic materials can replace the brush hairs to keep costs down and other types of decorations can replace the feather on a string.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Liu, Chinese Publication No. 202685652, filed Aug. 3, 2012 and published Jan. 23, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. 

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:
 1. An artistic implement comprising a lower body made of a grip gear hand blade with a decorative feather-tail string, and an elongated sword-shaped body with the upper body consisting of wool or wolf hair (or other similar material) pointed cylindrical artist's brush.
 2. The artistic implement of claim 1, wherein the elongated body approximates the size of a Tai Chi (or similar) sword.
 3. The artistic implement of claims 1 and 2, but wherein the upper body contains an artist's brush comprised of course hair, such as wolf hair or wool, which is approximately two to five inches long.
 4. The artistic implement of claims 1, 2, and 3 but wherein the brush hairs are cylindrically arranged, and taper down to a point to approximate the shape of a cone.
 5. The artistic implement of claims 1 and 2, but wherein the lower body comprises a grip gear blade to accommodate the hand or hands approximately five to six inches from the end with a decorative feather-tail string hanging from the end. 